1998 Outstanding Alumnus of the Year

Sheldon Fernandez

 

Sheldon Gerard Fernandez was a Judge in the 24th Judicial District Court for Jefferson Parish.

Judge Fernandez graduated from Holy Cross High School in 1955. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from SLU in 1959 and a law degree from Loyola University in 1968. He was an attorney for 28 years before taking the bench in January 1997. He also was a former Internal Revenue Service agent and a former prosecutor in Orleans Parish under District Attorney Jim Garrison.

Judge Fernandez served in the Army National Guard of Louisiana. He was a member of the District Judges Association, 4th and 5h Circuit Judges Association, the Jefferson, Louisiana and American bar associations, and the Louisiana and American trial lawyers associations.

Judge Fernandez was an outstanding athlete in his youth, especially at Southeastern Louisiana University. He was inducted into the university's Athletic Hall of Fame and was known as a strong hitter who was once considered for pro ball. However, education was more important to him. He was always grateful to Southeastern and in 1999 established a scholarship fund for a student in need of financial assistance and living in the Division J district.